Let It Be [Special Edition]

by The Beatles

Overview

The only Beatles album to occasion negative, even hostile reviews, there are few other rock records as controversial as Let It Be. First off, several facts need to be explained: although released in May 1970, this was not their final album, but largely recorded in early 1969, way before Abbey Road. Phil Spector was enlisted in early 1970 to do some post-production work, but did not work with the band as a unit, as George Martin and Glyn Johns had on the sessions themselves; Spector's work was limited to mixing and some overdubs. And, although his use of strings has generated much criticism, by and large he left the original performances to stand as is: only "The Long and Winding Road" and (to a lesser degree) "Across the Universe" and "I Me Mine" get the wall-of-sound layers of strings and female choruses. Although most of the album, then, has a live-in-the-studio feel, the main problem was that the material wasn't uniformly strong, and that the Beatles themselves were in fairly lousy moods due to inter-group tension. All that said, the album is on the whole underrated, even discounting the fact that a sub-standard Beatles record is better than almost any other group's best work. McCartney in particular offers several gems: the gospelish "Let It Be," which has some of his best lyrics; "Get Back," one of his hardest rockers; and the melodic "The Long and Winding Road," ruined by Spector's heavy-handed overdubs (the superior string-less, choir-less version was finally released on Anthology Vol. 3). The folky "Two of Us," with John and Paul harmonizing together, was also a highlight. Most of the rest of the material, by contrast, was going through the motions to some degree, although there are some good moments of straight hard rock in "I've Got a Feeling" and "Dig a Pony." As flawed and bumpy as it is, it's an album well worth having, as when the Beatles were in top form here, they were as good as ever. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	10/22/2021
Label:	Universal
UPC:	4988031459614

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Beatles   Primary Artist
Ringo Starr   Primary Artist,Drums,Piano,Vocals,Maracas,Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part
John Lennon   Primary Artist,Vocals,Guitar,Bass,Organ,Piano,6-String Bass,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Steel),Guitar (Rhythm),Lap Steel Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background),Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part
Billy Preston   Primary Artist,Keyboards,Organ,Piano,Vocals,Piano (Electric)
Paul McCartney   Guitar,Piano,Vocals,Bass,Organ,Maracas,Guitar (Bass),Vocal Harmony,Piano (Electric),Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background),Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part
George Harrison   Guitar,Vocals,Tamboura,Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background),Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part,Tambura
George Martin   Organ,Shaker,Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part
Linda McCartney   Vocals (Background)
Glyn Johns   Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part

Technical Credits

Phil Spector   Audio Production,Producer
Geoff Emerick   Audio Engineer
George Harrison   Arranger,Composer
Ringo Starr   Arranger,Composer
John Lennon   Arranger,Composer
Perry Bradford   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Paul McCartney   Arranger,Composer
Al Lewis   Composer
Mort Shuman   Composer
George Martin   Producer
Vincent Youmans   Composer
The Beatles   Producer
Felice Bryant   Composer
Jenny Lewis   Composer
Peter Bown   Mixing
Richard Starkey   Arranger,Composer
Guy Massey   Remastering
Giles Martin   Mixing,Producer
Glyn Johns   Mixing,Engineer
Kevin Howlett   Editing
Miles Showell   Mastering Engineer
Ethan Russell   Photography
Steve Rooke   Remastering
Sam O'Kell   Mixing,Remastering,Mixing Engineer
Jimmy McCraklin   Composer
Bob Garlic   Composer
Sylvester Bradford   Composer
Jimmy McCracklin   Composer
Boudleaux Bryant   Composer
Billy Rose   Composer
Fats Domino   Composer
Doc Pomus   Composer
Edward Eliscu   Composer